Healthcare

Class Action Suit Filed In Breach of Medical Records

March 27, 2014  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>A class action suit on behalf of as many as 168,500 patients of Los Angeles County medical facilities has been been filed against Sutherland Healthcare Solutions because of a breach their medical records.<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2755" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/images_medical-breach.jpg" style="width: 200px; float: right; height: 150px;" width="684" height="513" /><br /> <br />

In California, Surgeons and Alcohol Do Mix

March 26, 2014  ·  Carmen Balber

<p><strong>Tina Minasian - Sacramento, CA</strong></p>

A Child Lost to Dithering and Denial

March 26, 2014  ·  Judy Dugan

<p><strong><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2761" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/images_quin.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 273px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="343" height="443" />Quin Murphy - Chula Vista, CA</strong></p> <p>Quin Murphy at 16 was a soccer fanatic, with a family who supported him, coached him, even went on trips with him to watch favorite teams. In 2010, all of that ended. Quin and his family fell into a four-month tragedy of medical bumbling that caused Quin intractable pain and ultimately killed him.</p>

Advocates Fight To Raise $250,000 Cap For Medical Malpractice Damages

March 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>NORWALK >> Thousands of signatures on a controversial ballot initiative that would raise the malpractice cap on California’s negligent doctors were delivered to the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office Monday. Standing behind piles of boxes filled with signature slips outside the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk building in Norwalk, families who said their loved ones had died due to a negligent or intoxicated doctor held photographs of sons and daughters, sisters and fathers, and shared why they supported the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act.</p>

Signatures Turned In For Medical Malpractice Damages Initiative

March 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Consumer Watchdog</strong> and bereaved parents who lost two children to medical negligence turned in 840,000 signatures Monday to qualify an initiative for the November ballot that would raise the $250,000 state cap on damages for pain and suffering to more than $1 million.</p> <p>Proponents need 504,760 verified signatures to land the measure on the Nov. 5 midterm elections ballot.</p>

Danville Couple Helps Submit Signatures for Measure to End “Doctor Shopping” for Prescription Drugs

March 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="default"><span id="MNGiSection">A Danville couple who lost two children to a drunken and drugged driver joined other victims of medical negligence on Monday to deliver signatures for a ballot measure partly aimed at curbing "doctor shopping" for prescription pills. </span></span></p>

MICRA Reform Measure Looks Headed For Ballot

March 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Consumer attorneys, medical industry have not reach deal yet to raise MICRA limit</strong></p> <p>Despite what consumer attorneys say was a willingness on their part to compromise on a push to raise California's cap on medical malpractice lawsuit payouts and avoid a costly ballot measure fight, they appeared almost certain late Monday to push forward with a voter initiative to raise the cap to $1 million - and to require drug testing of hospital doctors.</p>

The Most Expensive Race Of 2014 Could Be This California Ballot Measure

March 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>What do you get when you pit doctors against trial lawyers in a high-stakes political death match in the most expensive state in America? A race that’s likely to be the most expensive contest of the year.</p> <p>The two big-spending special interests are set on a collision course after a group backed in part by California trial lawyers filed more than 800,000 signatures supporting a ballot measure that would significantly increase medical malpractice caps on pain and suffering injuries.</p>

Consumer Advocates Seek To Raise California Cap On Medical Malpractice Awards

March 24, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Consumer advocates in California said on Monday they had gathered enough signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot that would raise a decades-old state cap on medical malpractice awards to $1.1 million.</p> <p>The proposed initiative, backed by trial lawyers and the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, would more than quadruple the amount of money a patient could be awarded for pain and suffering in a malpractice case - currently capped at $250,000.</p>

Bill to Require Doctors to Undergo Drug Testing Heads to Ballot

March 24, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Emotional families whose loved ones died as a result of medical negligence spoke out Monday and delivered enough signatures to get it on the November ballot</b></p> <script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/portableplayer/?cmsID=252126741&videoID=q4Fzf6KwVnQg&origin=nbclosangeles.com&sec=news&subsec=local&width=600&height=360"></script> <p id="paragraph1">Families who lost loved ones to medical negligence delivered thousands of signatures on Monday for a ballot measure that would require California doctors to undergo random drug testing.</p>

Drug Testing For Doctors Moves Closer In California

March 24, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>•  May make it to the November ballot</b></p> <p><b>•  “Doctor drug testing will become a standard all across America, just as it already is for pilots”</b></p> <p>Californians may be asked when they vote in November to determine if doctors should be tested for drug abuse.</p> <p style="padding-bottom:6px;">The requirement is contained in a proposed initiative for which more than 840,000 signatures have been gathered and submitted for examination.</p>

UnitedHealth To Lift Mail-Order Requirement for HIV/AIDS Meds

March 21, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In a move that could set an industry precedent, UnitedHealthcare settled a national class-action lawsuit by agreeing to allow patients with HIV or AIDS to opt out of a requirement to obtain medications by mail order.</p>